Chipping Barnet MP Theresa Villiers has had a one-day Commons suspension imposed on her for attempting to influence legal proceedings involving a former party colleague.

The House of Commons endorsed recommendations from the Committee on Standards in connection with Ms Villiers, along with her Conservative MP colleagues Natalie Elphicke (Dover), and Sir Roger Gale (North Thanet).

It has therefore barred the three MPs from attending the Commons on Friday.

The timing of the suspension means they will only miss consideration of legislation proposed by backbench MPs – with Friday sittings traditionally not well attended – rather than a busy day when any crucial Government business will be debated.

Ms Villiers, Ms Elphicke, and Sir Roger were among five Tories who sought to interfere in a decision regarding former MP Charlie Elphicke, who was convicted of sex offences.

They all wrote to senior members of the judiciary raising concerns that a more junior judge was considering publishing character references provided for Elphicke.

The committee recommended that ex-environment secretary Ms Villiers, Ms Elphicke – the estranged wife of Elphicke and his successor as Dover MP – and Sir Roger should be suspended from the House for one day.

All five MPs were told to apologise, which they have done.